Tuition & Fees

Tuition for the first year of residency is the same as the Law School & LL.M. tuition rate. (This rate changes each year.) Tuition for the 2017-2018 academic year is $55,802. In addition to tuition, there are fees of approximately $490 for the year. After the first year of residency, J.S.D. candidates must enroll each semester for one unit of credit, for which they will receive a grade of “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” from their advisor. This one unit course is $500 per semester. After completing two years of residency, J.S.D. candidates may remain at Notre Dame to complete researching and writing their dissertation, or they may work at their home institution or another place that provides the research materials most useful to them. It typically takes three to five years to complete our J.S.D. degree requirements. In additional to tuition and fees, the University’s Graduate School estimates that an unmarried student needs a minimum of $18,700 to cover basic living expenses

Typically, one J.S.D. student per year will receive a full-tuition scholarship and living stipend for the two years of required residency. The Center may also admit other students who have their own or other external sources of funds.

Founded in 1869, the Notre Dame Law School is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the nation. Embracing equally the wealth of its heritage and a calling to address the needs of the contemporary world, Notre Dame Law School brings together centuries of Catholic intellectual and moral tradition, the historic methods and principles of the common law, and a thorough engagement with the reality of today’s legislative, regulatory, and global legal environment. At Notre Dame Law School, students and faculty of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and commitments are encouraged to cultivate both the life of the mind and the wisdom of the heart, to pursue their studies with a passion for the truth, and to dedicate their professional and personal lives to serve the good of all the human family.